Usually I dislike when TV shows suddenly have arc-encompassing plots. Though here I find myself pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the Key of Time season is shaping out to be (I'm on Power of Kroll atm). The stories are interesting, the characters are fun to watch, Romana is a good match against the Fourth's arrogantly smug personality. All in all, it's a great season!
Usually I dislike when TV shows suddenly have arc-encompassing plots. Though here I find myself pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the Key of Time season is shaping out to be
Perhaps you like it because the 6 stories are only loosely tied together by the Key of Time. Other than being an objective in each of the serials, the Key to Time plot really only features heavily in the first episode of the first serial and the last few episodes of the final serial.
I personally enjoy all 6 stories and think that the lesser ones get a little bit too maligned. In particular, Power of Kroll and Armageddon Factor seem to get a lot of hate, but I thoroughly enjoyed them both.
And isn't it great to have an entire season where they never visit Earth even once? I'm glad they got away from Earth for a large part of Tom Baker's run, which made it far more interesting to me.
reply share
Foiled again by my own spotty memory. Well at least 5 of 6 weren't on Earth, though it would have been much better if none of the keys to time were located on Earth. In all the infinite universe, almost everything important seems to happen there, or on a future Earth colony.
reply share
It's a British show; of course London's the center of the universe!
Yeah I guess that's always a side effect of location, aliens are always invading london or small english villages. it's like films from the US where only america can save the world from various perils, 'independence day' was a good example of that, they finally make radio contact with the rest of the world and they show english army officers "the americans want to fight back" "jolly good, what do they want us to do?" or something to that tune.
You have to love that season. Mary Tamm is a great companion as the smart and sexy and strong willed Romana, John Leeson as the lovable K9, Tom Baker before he lost his sparkle, a good variety of enjoyable stories, and a light story arc to connect the six serials together. My favorite is The Ribos Operation.
My personal favorite is "The Androids of Tara," primarily due to its being modeled on The Prisoner of Zenda, but it's followed very closely by "The Ribos Operation."
I'd like to be a pessimist, but this is a luxury I cannot afford.—Joseph of Cordoba
BY THE SEVEN MOONS OF HADES! The Pirate Planet at the bottom! Mr. Fibuli, send the guards to escort him to the dungeon! And don't let the Mentiads stop you this time!
I'd rank them as 1. Ribos 2. Stones 3. Pirate 4. Kroll 5. Armageddon 6. Tara
Sorry but I've never warmed to Tara, even though it's Mary Tamm's best story, I just don't find the story very engaging. For all their faults I can watch Kroll and Armageddon again and again. Ribos is a great story with terrific characters especially The Graff, Shoelakh, Garson and Unstoffe, and the scene with Unstoffe and Binro is one of my favourites in all of Who. Stones is let down by the ending.
I love Tara, but it's my kinda story. Sword fights, castles AND androids... yes please. Ribos is brilliantly written and even manages to have emotional weight. Stones is suitably spooky, and unlike a lot of people I don't really dislike the trial with the meagara or whatever they're called. Kroll, I love monster movies and I think the Kroll effects mostly hold up alright. Armageddon and Pirate I could honestly have them around each way. Armageddon has some strong moments but it's overlong and not a wholly satisfying conclusion to the arc... as for Pirate... it didn't really work for me, felt like it would fit better in Peter Davison's first season than in Tom's era